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Map: Kitten killed

PHOENIX -- Police arrested a woman Sunday morning after she allegedly threw a kitten off the third floor balcony of her apartment.

The kitten died from the fall.

Patricia Gaffin, 49, is facing a felony charge of animal cruelty.

According to a court document, Gaffin admitted to throwing the kitten off the balcony. She said she did it because the kitten urinated on the new carpeting in her apartment.

The incident was reportedly witnessed by multiple neighbors. The neighbors told police they heard a loud argument between Gaffin and her children just before the kitten was thrown off the balcony.

"Next think I know I see her hand and she tossed the cat," said Adriana Rivera, who called 911. "This lady was screaming at her kids. She was threatening them and then all of the sudden she threw this two-week-old cat off the third story balcony because it peed on her."

The apartment is near 15th Avenue and Hatcher Road in north-central Phoenix.

At her initial court appearance, Gaffin denied killing the cat. She was released on her own recognizance.

"What's important for people to know is that law enforcement takes this seriously as does the Arizona Humane Society," said Bretta Nelson with the Arizona Humane Society. "If you can no longer care for your animals or you see an animal in distress there is help out there. You can reach out to local shelters to help take in those pets. You don't have to resort to those measures.